Tooth brush



May 23,1939.

R. L. TWEEDALE TOOTH BRUSH originl Filed Febb. 2e, 1951 Tlc- 5"A FIG-l 7v Fas- 11 Patented May 23, 1.939

UNITED STATES 'room nausn Ralph L Tweeaai'e, nen-oit. Mich.

Application February ze. 1931, serial No. 513,546 vnieuwe october- 11, 193s A 19 claims. (C115-'17s) This invention relates to tooth brushes of the type in which the brush part is removablesc that it can be replaced by a rell in order to make it lpossible to frequently discard the used brush part without undue expense to the user.

More particularly the invention relates to tooth brushes ofthe above type in which the refill is provided with a protective wrapping preferably of a tough transparent material such as that w known on the market as cellophane and in which or in connection with which means is provided for severing the Wrapping as the refill is about to be used. It becomes rather diicult to break open a mapping of ordinaryCellophanewhen the package wrapped is small such as a -tooth brush refill as contemplated by this invention. It is therefore one object of the 'present invention to provide means for easily severing such a wrapping. f f

Other objects of the invention are to 'provide an improved means to hold a tooth brush refill, to provide such a means in which there is a provision for severing'the wrapping, to provide an` improvedy rell which will be attractive, convenient, and sanitary and one which will include everything necessary to the user for brushing his teeth.

,Four embodiments of the invention are illusshowing the refill before insertion;

Fig. '7 is a cross-section on line 1-1 of Fig.9

of a refill dispenser embodying a third form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. k9 is a side view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 7; l

Fig. 10 is front view of cutter embodying a fourth form of the. invention, and

Fig. 11 is a top view of the cutter shown in Fig. 10.

In the embodiment of invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 a tooth brush is provided which consists of a holder I having a. handle part 2. The holder I is adapted to hold a refill 3 vwhich consists of a back 4, bristles 5, a charge of dentifrice upon each other.

vSand a Wrapping 1 oi' a tough resilient material such as cellophane. 'I'he wrapping 1 is hermetically sealed preferably by adhesion to the edges of the back 4 although it maybe sealed in other ways such as by adhesion tothe bottom 5 of theback or by folding and sealing the folds The wrapping 1 is ordinarily rather difilcult to open with the fingers only, so thare is provided means to openthe wrapping as it'is secured in place. 10l

The holder I has a recess dened by theywalls 9, I 0, `I I, and I2 and bythe bottom I3' the latter forming a bridge member between the walls. 'I'he recess 8 is of slightly-less depth than the thickness of the back 4 so that when a refill is placed 15 in recess 8 its back will project slightly above the top edgeof the recess as shown in Fig. 2. A cutting-'edge I4 is provided at the top of wall I8. 'I'his cutting edge is located to come just even. with the top of recess B and just below the top 20 of the back of the reiillwhen in place. The end of holder I around the recess 8 is reduced in size to receive a cutting and retaining slide I5. 'I'he slide I 5 has oppositely vdisposed members I8 having cutting edges I1 spaced apart by'slightly less 25 than the width of the back 4 so that they will cut the wrapping 1 and tightly grip the back 4. A

-cutting edge I8 is provided at the end of the slide I5 opposite to the cutting edge I4. The slide I5 l when in the position shown in Fig. 3 leavesthe 30 recess 8 open to receive the refill 3, the recess being a little bit longer and wider than the back 4.

In operation the tooth brush is refilled by pull- I ing ,slide I5 out to the position of Fig. 3, taking 35 out the old refill element. placing the new one in the recess 8, and pushing slide I5 in to the position shown in Fig. 1. As slide I5 is pushed in the cutting edges I1 sever the sides of the wrapping 1 and grip the sides of the back 4. As the 40 'slide is pushed home the cutting. edges I4 and I8 cut the ends of the wrapping and grip the ends of the back. The wrapping is then lifted off and the tooth brush is vready for use. A lug I9 engages a recess 20 in the slide I5 to'frictionally 45 hold it in the position of Fig. 1. l

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 a holder 2| has a handle part- 22 and is adapted to hold a refill 23 similar to the Vrefill 8 `l previously described. The end of 'holder 2| has 50 a recess 29- defined by the curved walls 24 and 25 and open at the end 25. Opposed members 21 overlap the top edges of the recess 29 and have cutting edges 28 located so as to just overlap the top edges ofthe back of va renllwhen positioned 55 channel 5 I.

in the recess. At the closed end of the recess is located the cutting edge 3i. IThe opposite end 26 of the recess may be closed by a closure member 32 pivoted to the holder 2| at 33. .The member 32 carries a cutting edge 34 located so that when the member 32 is in the position of Fig. 4 the edges 3| and 34 will just overlap the two ends of the refill when positioned in the recess. A lug 35 ts into a mating recess 36 to frictionally hold member 32 in the positionof Fig. 4.

The operation of this modication is as follows: Member 32 is moved to the position of Fi'g. 6 and the old refill is removed by sliding" it out the end 26. The fresh rell is then pushed in from end 26 in the direction oi the arrow in Fig. 6. During this movement the overlappingA edges 28 cut the wrapping by a shearing action between edges 28 and the back of the rell. the rell is slid home edge 3l severs the end of the wrapping. Member 32 is then swung into the position of Fig. 4 and edge 34 at the same time severs its end of the wrapping. The tooth brush is now ready for use.

In the device of Figs. 7, 8, and 9 a container 31 is adapted'to hold a plurality of refills 38 which may be similar to the refill 3. The refills nor.- mally rest upon a plunger 33. The plunger 39, is a little larger in cross-section than the refills 38 and is adapted to slide outto the dotted line' position shown in Fig. 7. Opposite the left end of plunger 39 is an opening in the container 37 defined by the walls 40, 4l, 42, and 63. The two opposite side walls 40 and 42 have cutting edges 44 adapted to sever the wrapping of a rell as it is pushed through the opening. A handle 45 is provided on plunger 39 which may be symmetrical in shape with the protubera'nce 46 in which the opening is located. A pin 41 on the back of plunger 39 slides in aslot 48 in the back wall of the container 3T and limits the outward motion of plunger 39.

In operation of this modification the plunger 39 is withdrawn to the dotted line position which allows the refills above it to fall by gravity to the bottom of the container. The plunger is then pushed in to the full line position and 'at the same time the bottom rell is forced through theV opening. This action cuts the sides of the wrapping by engagement with the cutting edges 44. 'I'he rell may then be withdrawn and the wrapping removed with the fingers.

In the modification of Figs. 10 and 11 a cutter 49 is provided 'having opposed cutting edges 50 overlapping a channel 5I shaped to correspond to the shape of the back of a refill. A support 52 is provided for the cutter 48 which is adapted for fastening to a convenient'wall by screws 53. Tooth brush racks 54 are provided making the device capable of holding tooth brushes when not in use. In operation a refill is inserted at the top of the cutter with its back engaged in the By forcing the refill through the channel the sides of the wrapping are severed by the shearing action between the cutting edges 50 and the back of the refill.

I claim: A

1. A holder for a tooth cleaning appliance rey fill having a wrapping comprising means defining a recess for receiving a part of the refill, and means for cutting the wrapping which operates to sever the wrapping as the refill is secured in place in the holder.

2. A holder for a tooth brush refill having a.

wrapping, comprising a relatively long slender handle adapted .to bereadily grasped in the hand, and means for cutting the wrapping of the refill and for holding the rell in position for use whereby the wrapper is severed as the refill is secured in position inthe handle.

3. A holder for a tooth brush refill having a wrapping, comprising a relatively long slender handle adapted to be readily grasped in the hand, and means for cutting the wrapping of the rell and for holding the refill in position for use whereby the wrapping is severed as the refill is secured in position inthe handle, at least part of the last named means being pivoted to swing into and out of refill securing position.

4. A holder for a tooth brush 'rell having a wrapping, comprising a relatively long slender handle adapted to be readily grasped in the l hand, and means for cutting the wrapping of the refill and for holding the refill in position for use whereby the wrapping is severed as the refill is secured in position in the handle, at least part of the last named means operating by relative sliding motion between the refill and the means.

Y 5.` A refillable tooth brush comprising a holder having a handle part, a refill having a compara. tively rigid back means on the holder for securing the refill in place in the holder said means "actingto secure the refill in place by relative sliding motion longitudinally of the handle between the reil and the means and a detent for retaining the securing means in rei'lll securing position.

.6. A. holderior a tooth brush refill, said rell vhaving a flat comparatively rigid back and a ber may be' operatedv to force a package through the opening and between the cutting edges for dispensing a package and at the same time severing its wrapping.

` 8. Means for opening a package containing a tooth brush refill having a back of comparatively rigid thick sheet material and a wrapping of tough thin sheet material overlying the edge of the back, comprising a cutter having walls defining an opening corresponding in size andA defining an opening corresponding in size -and shape to the size and shape of the back of the rell in cross-section, a cutting edge associated with one of the walls of the opening for severing the wrapping of the refill at the point where it overlies the back as itis passed through the opention to engage the bottom of the renll back, up- I ing and an article Vfor toilette use forming a sup` porting structure for the cutter.

10. Ina means `for opening a package containing a reiill for a tooth brush, said refill comprising a iiat back o! comparativelyl rigid material and a plurality o! tui'ts of bristles set perpendicularly therein. 'said reilll having a wrappingof tough nexible sheet material; the com- I bination of a cutter supporting element, amem- -l0 ber having a cutting edge adapted to coact with one side oi said rell back to cut the wrapping at a point between the cutting edge land the back, a second member adapted to coact with the l 1 opposite side of said refill back-to maintain the back` in close engagement with the rst member, and a bridgemember connecting the rst and second members and delining an opening to receive'at least part oi said -reilll back.

I lL'A tooth cleaningappliance comprising in combination a handle element and a reflll relement, the refill element including a thin comparatively rigid portion lforming a back, a exible portion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning,v a charge of 'dentifrice associated with the ilexible4 portion and a hermetically sealed wrapping covering the reiill and positioned adjacent theedges of the back, the handle element including 'a -relatively long. lslender portion adapted tobe readily grasped in the hand and a reilll securing portion which includes means for severing the wrappingof the reiill 'whenthe reilllis secured in position on the handle element. 12. vA tooth cleaning appliance comprising in combination a handle element and a renll element, thereilll element including a thin comparativelyrigid portion forming a back, a ilexible portion adapted to 'engage `the'teeth for cleaning, and a` hermetically sealed wrapping ment, the refill element including a thin com- -parativelyprigid portion forming a back, a flexible portion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning, a charge oi dentifrice associated with theflexible portion and a hermetically sealed .wrapping entirely surrounding the re'nll, the handle element including a relatively long, slender portion yadaptedtobereadilygraspedinthehandandarefill securing portion which includes means for severing the wrapping o! the -when the reiill is secured in position on the handle element.

14. A device tor opening a renll element for" a tooth cleaning appliance, said renll element "including a thin comparatively rigid portion forming aback, a'iiexlble portion to engaletheteethrorcleaninmandahermeticallysealed wrapping of tough'sheet material covering thereiill and-overlyingthe edgesoi thleback, saiddevicebeingiorliietlvritlia-natliottomper right walls at the terminations of said bottom portion adapted to surround the edges of the reilll back, and cutting edges associated with said upright walls and adapted to coact with the back to sever the wrapping as the cutting edges and refill are moved relative to each other.

15. A rell element for atooth cleaning ap' pliance comprising in combination, a thin comparatively rigid back, a flexible portion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning, a charge of dentifrice associated with the exible portion, and a wrapping of tough, flexible, sheet mavterial completely` covering the flexible portionand'charge of dentifrice said wrapping overlying the 'edges of the back and beinghermetically ,sealed to maintain the exible portion and .charge of dentifrice in a sanitary condition.

16. A dispenser for tooth cleaning appliance rells, said reillls including a thin comparatively rigid portion forming a back, a flexible lportion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning, and

a hermetically sealedwrapping of tough sheet material overlying the edges of the back and covering the reiill, said dispenser including means forming an opening through which refills may .be dispensed said opening being formed with a fiat bottom portion to engagethe bottom o1 the refill back, upright walls at the terminations of said bottom portion adapted to surround the edges of the reilll back, and cutting edges associated with the upright walls and adapted to coact with the back to sever the wrapping as the refill is moved through said opening when dispensed.

17. A refill element fora tooth cleaning apfpliance comprising in combination, a thin comparativelyrigid back, a exible portion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning. a charge of dentifrice associated with the ilexible portion, and a vwrapping oi' tough, flexible, sheet material completely covering the flexible 4portion and chargeof dentifrice, said `wrapping being her.- metically sealed to the back to maintain the -tlexible portion and charge oi dentifrice' in a-l sanitary condition.

is. A renn element -for a. tooth cleaning 'appliance comprising in combination a thin comparatively rigid back, a iiexible portion adapted to engage the .teeth for cleaning,a charge oi' dentifrice associated with the flexible portion,

and a wrapping of tough, flexible sheet material completely covering the exible portion and charge of dentifrice, said wrapping being vher-l metically sealed to maintain the flexible portion fand'charge of dentifrice in a sanitary condition.

19. A reiill element for a tooth cleaning ap pliance comprising in combination, athin comparatively rigid back, a flexible portion adapted to engage the teeth for cleaning, and a wrapping of tough ilexible sheet material completely overlying the ilexible portion and being hermetically' sealed to msintain'tne nexibiie poi-aon in a pm-Y.

tarycondition. 

